Brownsville & Lakeland

Yes, a week ago or something, together with kilpatrick i thought.

Here's my two pence...

My brother was also a former student, and while he gained a few things from it, there was also a lot of junk going on, as well.

Now, as far as I'm concerned, I've always had issues with "revivals" such as these, because I see so much fakeness and insincerity in these events. Being one who wants to see true, Biblical revival come and sweep across America and the world, I became skeptical of the Brownsville "revival."

Some relatives really wanted my family and I to visit the church and see what the Lord was doing there, and I was one of the first to pipe up and say that I didn't think it was a good idea.

Lo, and behold, we get there and there was a ton of crazy, hyped up, spirited (not spiritual), stuff that took place.

I remember when Steve asked a group of people (a visiting youth or college group) to stand up and hold hands. Steve then went to one of the guys and touched him. The guy was "so filled with the Holy Spirit" that it shot through his body and through the rest of the 15 people holding hands, that they all fell down almost simotaniously (sp?). Now, to me (not puting God in a box), that is a bunch of hyped-up nonsense.

Near the end of the service he asked for people to come up and get prayed for. My relatives encouraged my whole family to go up, and it took several attempts to convince me to go ahead and go through with it. So, of course I did, and it was this that totally convinced me that the "revival" was no revival at all.

One of the "elders" came to pray for me and he touched me on the head, asking God to cleanse me of my sins, and so forth. He then left me after praying for a number of minutes, expecting me to fall over, and prayed for someone else. He then came back to me, and prayed some more, pressing a bit harder on my head, and asking God to rid the darkness in my life. He left me again, and came back a few minutes later after praying for someone else. This happened even one more time after this with him pressing more firmly on my head, asking God to rid me of the demonic stronghold in my life that was keeping me from falling over and being filled with the Holy Spirit. In his last attempt, He shoved my head back so hard, that I actually had to catch myself from falling over, and he left me saying that I wasn't letting God come into my life and that Satan had too much of a stronghold.
He's telling this to me, a pastor's kid, someone who has served in the church all his life.

Now can there be "bad apples" in a revival? Sure. But when it comes to the preacher and the leadership doing these things, and calling it "of God," it puts up a really, really big flag for me.

And then to have them "bless" the Lakewood revival, pretty much tells me the authenticity of this revival- not a true revival.

And just because someone reads Scripture, during a "revival" doesn't make it an authentic revival.

There are many preachers leading the prosperity movement, using all kinds of Scripture, but just because they use Scripture, doesn't make it right, as I think the majority of us know. It's the same principle with revivals.

Revivals must be authentic, selfless, motivated and moved by God. Nothing should be staged, or forced, or done to look good. I saw much staging, forcing, and self-gratifying things take place at the Brownsville "revival." I can't see it, or Lakeland being authentic.

:-(

{Edited}

We must be careful not to take mens words at face value, but here is what the Word of God says:

Jer 14:14 Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.

Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Mar 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if [it were] possible, even the elect.

Luk 6:26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

2Pe 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies

1Jo 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils

1Ti 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Tts 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

Tts 1:10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers....Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

Tts 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

2Cr 11:13 For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness